Biography

Third-year defensive end who comes to Detroit after most recently spending time with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, as well as the Vikings practice squad in 2013. Earned a backup defensive end role this season after an impressive preseason in which he finished with 2.5 sacks and eight tackles.

TRANSACTIONS

Signed by the Detroit Lions as a free agent on April 22, 2014.

Released by the Vikings on October 19, 2013.

Signed by the Vikings to the active roster from the practice squad on December 22, 2012.

Signed by the Minnesota Vikings to the practice squad on November 9, 2012.

Released by the Buccaneers on November 1, 2012.

Signed by the Buccaneers to the active roster from the practice squad on October 10, 2011.

Signed by the Buccaneers to the practice squad on September 8, 2011.

Released by the Buccaneers on September 5, 2011.

Signed by the Buccaneers to the active roster from the practice squad on December 14, 2010.

Signed by the Buccaneers to the practice squad on September 5, 2010.

Signed by the Buccaneers on August 24, 2010.

Released by the Buccaneers on August 10, 2010.

Signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 3, 2010.

PRO Third-year defensive end who comes to Detroit after most recently spending time with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, as well as the Vikings practice squad in 2013. Earned a backup defensive end role this season after an impressive preseason in which he finished with 2.5 sacks and eight tackles.

2014: Emerged as a force along the Lions defensive line, specifically on third down, finishing his first season in Detroit third on the team in sacks with six, as well as 26 tackles (21 solo), one pass defense and one fumble recovery.

In his debut with the Lions, Johnson collected a then-career-best three tackles and 1.5 sacks in Week 1 vs. New York Giants (9/8). His first sack for a nine-yard loss in the first quarter was the first of his career.

Collected one solo tackle in Week 2 at Carolina (9/14).

Had a career-high four tackles including one tackle for a loss in Week 3 vs. Green Bay (9/21).

Made one tackle and had one quarterback hit in Week 4 at New York Jets (9/28).

Sacked the quarterback once and had two tackles on the day in Week 5 vs. Buffalo (10/5).

Collected a career-high five tackles and had 1.5 sacks in Week 6 at Minnesota (10/12). His 1.5 sacks tied a career single-game high, which he set in the season opener (1.5 vs. NYG 9/8).

Made one special teams tackle in Week 7 vs. New Orleans (10/19).

Had three solo tackles in Week 8 at Atlanta (10/26).

Collected a solo tackle in Week 10 vs. Miami (11/9).

Made one solo tackle in Week 12 at New England (11/23).

Had one solo tackle and one pass defense, the first of his career, in Week 13 vs. Chicago (11/27).

Collected a sack in Week 14 vs. Tampa Bay (12/7).

Made two tackles, including one sack in Week 15 vs. Minnesota (12/14).

Saw playing time in a backup defensive end role in Week 16 at Chicago (12/21).

Posted one tackle and recovered one fumble in Week 17 at Green Bay (12/28).

2013: Member of the Vikings practice squad before being released by the team on October 9, 2013.

2012: Split time with both the Buccaneers and Vikings, seeing action in seven games, including five with Tampa Bay and two with Minnesota. Finished the season with five assisted tackles. Came off the Vikings practice squad to provide valuable depth at defensive end with injuries to starter Brian Robison late in the season.

Saw action in the season opener for Tampa Bay before joining the Vikings practice squad on November 9.

Played his first game as a Viking at Houston (12/23), as well as the regular season finale vs. Green Bay (12/30).

2011: Competed in four games for the Buccaneers, logging two total tackles (one solo).

Began the season on the Buccaneers practice squad for the first four weeks of the season before being upgraded to the active roster on October 10.

Grabbed his first-career tackle at New Orleans (11/6) and had two tackles vs. Houston (11/13).

Placed on Reserve/Injured on November 14.

2010: Joined the Buccaneers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Rutgers, where was a member of the practice squad for the first 14 weeks of the season. Signed to the active roster on December 14, but was inactive for the final three games.

COLLEGE Started 35-of-51 games during his collegiate career at Rutgers, where we played as a starting defensive end as a junior and senior.

Recorded 6.5 sacks in 13 starts during his senior season.

PERSONAL A native of Glassboro, N.J., helped his hometown high school to an 11-1 record and a berth in South Jersey Group I Championship Game as a senior.

Earned South Jersey Touchdown Club Lineman of the Year following his senior season.

Recent Articles

With NFL teams in the process of shaping their final rosters, DE George Johnson is an example of opportunity, what making a roster can mean to players on the bubble and how many who are overlooked in the draft have become valuable contributors.